Weekend

There are some bizarre holidays that are supposedly celebrated today, such as "more herbs, less salt day",  "national whiskey sour day" (does anyone still drink these?), and my favorite, "According to Hoyle Day! This is a day to honor Edmond Hoyle who died on this day in 1769. In 1741, he instructed people how to play the game of whist, an 18th and 19th century card game. Needing a standard set of rules for the game he wrote A Short Treatise on the Game of Whist.  He published several versions of the book adding rules for other games such as chess and backgammon. The phrase "according to Hoyle" was used to describe the correct rules or procedures in any activity or game."
Who knew - I've only heard his name in reference to rules of bridge!  And sadly new bridge players don't use him rules much anymore..

Butternut

Picked some butternut squash. According to internet you are supposed to let them "cure" in 85 degree humid conditions for 2 weeks and then can store them for a few months. Well it's not 85 inside or out here, so not sure how you do that. We might get two hot days this week, but nights are still going to be in the 60's. So have moved them to the kitchen since am still canning and that surely makes it hotter and more humid. Plan to give these to one of my neighbors and will pick more to bring to FL. In looking this up, discovered that FL actually raises more butternut squash than any place else in US (according to Internet) ; makes sense if you have to have hot, humid weather to make them last.

what we think it Elderberry

Still not 100% sure about this bush/tree but think it's Elderberry. We have a number of them on the bank. The berries don't seem to be as dark as what I've seen in other pictures, but maybe not totally ripe yet. Doesn't matter, don't really intend to make any Elderberry wine this year anyway.. think I will wait until I am "elderly."   LOL
 
Saturday was a canning day -

Grapes after washing

Made grape juice out of these babies Friday and then made jelly on Saturday. Grape harvest isn't like last year, but this bucket full made 16  and 1/2 jars of jelly so think it will do. There are more out there that weren't quite ripe yet. So this week I will get more and make juice.  Also canned more tomatoes - every couple days have enough to do a few jars.

Froze some more green beans though those seem to be at their end and the second planting is just blooming. Luci and Butch will enjoy them I hope  after I leave. Also harvesting - eating and freezing Lima Beans, one of Nelson's favorites.

Brussel sprouts not really forming well, but Cathy, a neighbor, said go ahead and pick some and cook they will still taste the same so I tried that out.. She was right.. Of course, what doesn't taste good when cooked with a little bacon. I am seriously going to have to stop eating like this when I get back to FL.

Cathy has bees this year and harvested honey this week. I was one of the friends who scored a bottle for free. She plans to sell some.  Nice that she's kept Cousin Olive's name for the property!